Charles heyman



2 SheetsSheet l. C. HEYMAN.

STOP 000K LOCK.

(No Model.)

No. 542,642. Patented July 16, 1895.

692611165 Et/l/tCI/Ii/ (No Model.) 2 Sheets Sheet 2.

G. HEYMAN. STOP 000K LOCK No. 542,642. Patented July 16, 1895.

naw/Moe UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HEYMAN, OF NEYV YORK, N. Y.

STOP-COCK LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,642, dated July 16, 1895.

Application filed Haroh 20, 1895. Serial No. 5421 (N0 model-l 1"0 aZZ whom it Hwy-concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HEYMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stop-Cock Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of my invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In the winter season when service-pipes are liable to freeze, and at other times when faucets have been carelessly left open, floors and ceilings are often damaged by u nchecked fiowing of water in vacant buildings and valuable goods are injured during the night-time when no one is about to check the flow.

My invention is an improvement in stopcock locks, faucet-locks, and the like, and is designed not only to insure the proper shutting off of water at times when it is not needed in residences, factories, store-houses, and the like, but also to provide means whereby such proper shutting off of the water may be indicated at any desired portion of the buildingfor instance, in the janitors room,in the hall for the watchman, or elsewhere-without the necessity of personally inspecting the stopcock itself; and it has, further, for its objects to provide a device which will look only when the stop-cock is completely turned and the water entirely shut off, and to provide a device which when the stop-cock is turned and the water shut off will, by means of an electrical connection, announce that fact elsewhere when desired.

IVith these objects in view the invention consists in the various novel details of construction, in the combinations of the parts, and in the device as a whole.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, to which reference is hereby made, and which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, throughout which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating my invention as ordinarily applied in a warehouse. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stopcock lock itself, showing the sections of the lock and casing opened or thrown apart. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on a plane passing through the central portion of Fig. 2. Fig.4islikewise a horizontal sectional view of the locking device, but shows the casing in position and the stop-cock properly locked and closing the electrical circuit, as hereinafter described.

In the drawings the letter A indicates the ordinary service-pipe supplying water to a building. As shown in Fig. 1, a storehouse or factory is indicated, in which a sink or basin is located on one of the upper floors and is marked B. The stop-cock, indicated by the letter O, is placed in the usual situation-that is, in the cellar or in one of the lower floors of the building. By the letter D, I designate my stop-cock lock, suitably placed with reference to the stop-cockitself. At E,Ihave indicated an electric battery connected through the alarm or bell-ringing device F with the stopcock lock D in the manner hereinafter described.

The stop-cock lock D consists of a bed portion or base D, the lock-casings D and D being hinged so as to oppose each other and to meet and form a hollow tube when thrown at right angles to the base D. It is to be noted that the lock-casings D and D have their inner ends squared, and consequently cannot be moved toward each other more than ninety degrees. In other words, when these sections of the lock or lock-casings are at right angles to the base to which they are hinged, their inner ends are flush with and rest upon the same, and further movement is impossible. The base D is usually made of wood or other nonconducting material; but if suitable precautions for the insulation of the parts hereinafter mentioned are taken this base may be made of other material. The sections or lookcasings D D are usually made of metal, such pressed pins d which are suitably connected by means of the wires-e with the battery and the bell-ringing device F.

Within the sections or casings D D and near their'inner squared ends I secure in any suitable manner blocks ofinsulating material, such as wood, hard rubber, or the like d; to which are fastened the L-shaped metal springtongues 01, which extend forward obliquely within the casings far enough to embrace the stop-cock handle 0, as shown in Fig. 4:. These spring-tongues d by mea'nsof their bent-up portions impinge upon and are electrically in contact with the electric contact devices,- metal buttons, or spring-pressed pins d whenever the casing-sections D D arebroughtitogether and the lock D is fastened; but as they are insulated from the casing-sections. and do not touch each other no. current. can pass unless at such time the stop-cock handlec is incontact withthem, as before described.

The bell-ringingmechanism F isof any-ordinaryor approved construction. and maybe provided with the switch fi.

The operation of the deviceis'as follows: Whenever the. stop-cock handlee has. been turned soasto shut off the. stop-cock G, and 3 thus stopthe flow of the water, (as shown in the drawings this is arrangedtotake place when the handle is at right anglesto theline of the pipe, as is usually the case'-,):the lock.- ingdevice D may be closed thereuponin the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 4, thereby preventing its accidental turning or displacement, and providing means whereby aperson at a point distant from the stopcockcan in-. form himself that thesame has been-shutofi. This is accomplished in. the following way: One pole of the battery is connected by suitable wirewith one of the electric'contact devices, metal buttons, or. springepressed' pins CF, and the other pole of; the. battery is con: nected with one of, the binding-posts of the electric bell .F. The other binding+post of this electric bell is connected by means ofa suitable. wire with the other electric contact device, metal button, or springepressed pin (1 As has been said before, there isv a switching device f inconnection with theelectric bell. Now, looking at. Figs. 1 and 4 still, we seethat as soon as the current is closed by turning the switch f it will pass frointhe battery, say,

to-the contact device or pin d on the. right,

from that pin to the spring-tongue-d onthe same. side, fromthe spring-tongue d on the right through-the stop-cock. handle; 0 tothe spring-tongue cl on theleft, and from this spring-tongue to the corresponding contact deviceor pin 01 and thence. through thewire to the electricbell'F and back: to. the battery E, thereby ringing the. bell F and indicating that the parts are in proper position and the water turned off.

The practical ntility ot my device willappear from the-following facts: No mere, closin g together of the parts D D even if they are locked in position by D, will form an ing reasons, to wit: The sections of the easings D D cannot be moved beyond ninety degrees. toward each other, and therefore, Ithough meet the spring-tongues 01 might touchthe half-turned handle 0, the other tongue could not touch it, and there would be a gap in the circuit.

VVhilel have described my device in con-.

.nection with: the stop-cock of the service-pipe used for water, itis-not to be understood that I desire to limit myself. in any manner. The

device may. be used not only for water-pipes, but. for gas-pipes, and in fact to insure the fproper. performance of any mechanical duty .an'dtogive. noticeof such. performance. at a distance by'means of. an'electric bell, as be- ;'fore: described.

I have described and shown the springpressed pins 61* as my preferredform for contact-makingbetweenthe metal spring-tongues d' and the. wires e, when inpointof fact any suitably-insulated; contact. devices would do,

and therefore l do notwishto be understood,

as limiting myself tothis particular form or arrangement.

Having-thusfully described my invention, what I claim as new, and'desireto secure by Letters Patent-of the United States, is?- 1. A. stop cock-v lock. consisting of a rigid base,-lock.-cas-ingseor sections hinged thereto,

ICC

thesaid casingshaving squared: inner ends adapted to-fit flush against thebase, the 033- ings adapted to meet andforma'hollow tube when. placed atright' angles to the base and a'eatc'n or locking device adaptedto hold;the said casings togethe r;

2. lnastop cock'lock, abas-e, casings hinged thereto having metal spring'tong'ues secured and insulated within them, contact devices mounted inthe base between the said casings and-adapted-to touch the metal spring tongues when the-casings are closed,

8. The combination with a stop-cock having an elongated handle, of a stop-cock lock conto the sections and adapted to-hold them. together.

4. In a stop-cocklock, the combinationwith the base D providedwith. the spring pressed pins d insulated from each other, of the eas- IIO 'sisting'of' opposite sections hinged to a rigid jbase, adapted to-meet and inclose. the said handle and aicatch or locking device: securedv the base D, provided with the spring pressed pins (1 insulated from each other, of the easings D ,D hinged to the base, and capable of being moved until they are at right angles to the base, the metal spring tongues d secured within the said casings and insulated therefrom by the blocks (1, a battery connected by means of wires through an electric bell to the spring pressed pins d ,a circuit closer such as c, and a switchf all substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

6. In a stop-cock lock, the combination with a base, provided with spring pressed pins insulated from each other, lock casings hinged to the base having a catch D metal spring tongues secured within the said casings and insulated therefrom, a circuit closer connecting the said metal spring tongues, and wires connecting the aforesaid spring pressed pins with a battery and an electric hell.

7. The combination with a stop-cock lock consisting of a base, lock-casings or sections having squared inner ends hinged to the base and adapted to meet and form a hollow tube when placed at right angles to the base the said lock casings being provided with metal spring tongues mounted within them and insulated from each other and from the casings, contact devices mounted in the base between the said casings and insulated from each other, the said contact devices bearing upon and being in electrical connection with the metal spring tongues when the casings are at right angles with the base, a circuit closer in electrical connection with the aforesaid metal spring tongues, and an electric circuit uniting the contact-devices. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES IIEYMAN. Witnesses:

FRANK M. KNIGHT, JACOB CHADEAYNE. 

